Ruiter Weihnachtsmarkt
One-day Advent market at Kronenplatz Ostfildern-Ruit — craft stalls, chainsaw artists, pony rides, and a visit from St. Nicholas
About Ruiter Weihnachtsmarkt
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Ruiter Weihnachtsmarkt — Advent at Kronenplatz
The Ruiter Weihnachtsmarkt is a classic neighborhood Advent market in the Ruit district of the town of Ostfildern (Esslingen district). On Saturday, November 28, 2026, the next edition will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Kronenplatz in the center of Ruit. The organizer is BDS Ruit e.V. (Bund der Selbstständigen), the local network of tradespeople and self-employed individuals. Free admission.
What you'll find at Kronenplatz
The market is manageable and personal — a morning-to-early-evening format with clearly scheduled program points:
- Craft products — wood carvings, ceramics, jewelry, felt items, candles, knitted goods from Ruit craftspeople and associations
- Chainsaw artists at work — a characteristic attraction of the Ruit market: artists carve small and large figures from logs in front of the audience using chainsaws
- Pony rides from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for children
- Staufenexpress — a miniature train that takes children around the market area
- Food and drink stalls with mulled wine (Glühwein), punch, bratwurst, waffles (typical offering from the Albverein Ruit: fresh waffles with or without apple sauce, served with homemade jams)
St. Nicholas at 3 p.m.
The highlight for children is the visit from St. Nicholas at 3 p.m. St. Nicholas, often accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht (his helper), walks through the market and distributes gifts to the children. Parents and grandparents take plenty of photos. A classic moment of the Swabian Advent market, which takes place in the afternoon here in Ruit.
Musical Accompaniment
Two concert programs punctuate the afternoon:
- 4:00 PM — Ruiter Blechkammerchor: Brass ensemble with a Christmas repertoire
- 5:00 PM — Musikverein Ruit: Brass band music from the local music association with Advent songs and Christmas classics
Ostfildern-Ruit — the traditional district
Ostfildern is a town formed in 1975 in the Esslingen district, south of Stuttgart. It was created by the merger of several formerly independent municipalities, including Ruit, Nellingen, Kemnat, and Scharnhausen. Ruit has preserved its local identity — the town center around Kronenplatz is a meeting point for the residents of Ruit, local associations, and tradespeople. The Christmas market is one of the few occasions during the year when this identity is fully evident.
Ruiter Weihnachtsmarkt — edition 2026
Program 2026 — A Market Day in Ruit
The Ruiter Weihnachtsmarkt 2026 will take place on the traditional Saturday of the first Advent weekend. BDS Ruit (Bund der Selbstständigen Ruit) is the organizer and coordinates with local associations, craftspeople, and tradespeople for the stalls and program.
The mix of craft market stalls, children's attractions (pony rides, Staufenexpress, St. Nicholas), and musical performances (brass ensemble, music association) makes the market a classic Swabian neighborhood Advent market — manageable, personal, without the hustle and bustle of Stuttgart's larger Advent markets.
Programme Ruiter Weihnachtsmarkt 2026
Saturday, November 28, 2026 — 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- 11:00 AM — Market opens, stalls open at Kronenplatz
- Morning: craft market stalls, first food and drink vendors
- 1:00 PM–4:00 PM — Pony rides for children
- 2:00 PM — Chainsaw artists begin demonstrations
- 2:00 PM — Staufenexpress miniature train runs
- 3:00 PM — St. Nicholas visits with gifts for the children
- 4:00 PM — Ruiter Blechkammerchor performs
- 5:00 PM — Musikverein Ruit performs
- 5:30 PM–7:00 PM — Food, drink, and market activities as darkness falls
- 7:00 PM — Market closes
Highlights Ruiter Weihnachtsmarkt 2026
- Chainsaw artists at work — a characteristic Ruit attraction
- Pony rides from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Staufenexpress as a miniature train
- Visit from St. Nicholas at 3 p.m.
- Ruiter Blechkammerchor at 4 p.m.
- Musikverein Ruit at 5 p.m.
- Craft stalls with local products
- Waffles from the Albverein with apple sauce — an insider tip
- Free admission
Prices Ruiter Weihnachtsmarkt 2026
Free admission. Food and drink: Mulled wine €3–€4, punch €2–€3, bratwurst €3–€4, waffles €3. Pony rides and Staufenexpress with symbolic fees for children. Craft products vary by stall and item.
Practical information — Ruiter Weihnachtsmarkt
Getting there
Take the Stadtbahn (suburban train) lines U7 or U8 from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof to Ostfildern Heumaden/Ruit, then a bus to Kronenplatz or a 10-minute walk. By car, take the B14 or L1208, with parking available on the outskirts of town.
Times and Admission
Saturday, November 28, 2026, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Free admission.
Program 2026
- 11:00 AM — Market opens, stalls open
- 1:00 PM–4:00 PM — Pony rides for children
- 2:00 PM — Chainsaw artists begin demonstrations
- 3:00 PM — St. Nicholas visits
- 4:00 PM — Ruiter Blechkammerchor performs
- 5:00 PM — Musikverein Ruit performs
- 7:00 PM — Market closes
Tip
Come between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. — this is the most packed part of the program with pony rides, St. Nicholas, the brass ensemble, and the music association. For families with children, 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. is ideal (pony rides and St. Nicholas' visit). The waffles from the Albverein (with apple sauce) are a local insider tip.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Ruiter Weihnachtsmarkt
Kronenplatz Ostfildern-Ruit — Ortsmitte
Kronenplatz Ruit, 73760 Ostfildern